After years of preparation, hard work and a remarkable ability to perform under pressure, Clément Sommier has been crowned Best Sommelier of France 2026.
The journey began during the qualifying rounds held at Wine Paris 2026, where six candidates secured a place in the semi-finals: Julia Scavo, Audrey Brugière, Marie Wodecki, Augustin Belleville, Pierre-Alexis Mengual and Clément Sommier. Following the closed-door semi-final held at the Institut Lyfe, only three contestants advanced to the final: Audrey Brugière, Augustin Belleville and Clément Sommier.
At Lyon's Théâtre des Célestins, the finalists competed for nearly three hours before an audience of 400 spectators and a panel of industry professionals. Conceived by Cindy Schirr and Gaëtan Bouvier, the competition tested every aspect of the profession: correcting cocktail recipes, creating wine pairings for a traditional Lyonnais menu, matching wines with a gastronomic sauce, conducting blind tastings of wines and spirits, and identifying leading figures from the worlds of wine and sommellerie.
At the end of this particularly demanding final, Clément Sommier emerged victorious ahead of Augustin Belleville and Audrey Brugière. Originally from Burgundy, he built his career between the renowned Georges Blanc restaurant and the Swiss Berthaudin Group, where he has worked for the past five years. This achievement earns him the title of Best Sommelier of France 2026, succeeding Bastien Debono, who won the competition in 2024.
Clearly moved as he received his trophy, Clément Sommier paid tribute to those who had supported him throughout his journey: “I am incredibly happy. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past five years through these competitions. They haven't always been easy moments, but today it has all paid off. You have given it all back to me a hundredfold”.
Photos: Magali Butny
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